New Music Blog from Israeli musicologist

Avior Byron has a blog about music, --some Jewish music in Israel, and general music in Israel. http://www.bymusic.org/index.php

Yellow Submarine in Talpiot, Jerusalem

Elie Massias will be at The Yellow Submarine TUESDAY JUNE 10TH 10PM In Talpiot Jerusalem More info at http://www.yellowsubmarine.org.il/

SHAINA ETTEL releases CD YA'ALE

New CD Release: Ya’ale is for sale through CDBaby - http://cdbaby.com/cd/shainaettel

With Ya’ale, her first solo recording, Shaina Ettel expresses her love of Torah and song. She brings a fresh approach to traditional Jewish music. She captures the heart and soul of Chabad niggunim. The songs are powerful . The CD comes with an 8 page insert with text in English and Hebrew. Shaina Ettel’s voice has an “ethereal” quality and has been compared to Judy Collins, or Sarah Brightman. This CD, consists of 13 selections with Shaina Ettel accompanied by both piano and full orchestration.

Shaina Ettel grew up in Saratoga Springs, New York. She is a professionally trained vocalist, and has performed in many concerts and shows. She made Aliyah 2½ years ago and presently lives in the picturesque Nachlaot neighborhood. She recently played the title role of Ruth the Gush Etzion’s RSY original musical production of Ruth and Naomi in the Fields of Bethlehem. Google Shaina Ettel or visit her website www.ShainaEttel.com

Women's Music Festival in Jerusalem

The Women's Music Festival, featuring various styles of music from western (American influenced) to middle-eastern music will be held Monday August 13, Rosh Chodesh Elul
Time: 8:30 PM
Place: Pargod, 2 Nissim Bachar St. corner of 94 Betzelel St. Jerusalem
Admission: 30 NIS

*Artists CDs will be sold
*Hot drinks provided

Clarinets in Safed this Summer

Looking for something great to do in Israel this summer? If you are a clarinetist you can find the perfect way to learn, have fun, and play great music. The 4th annual celebration of classical, jazz and klezmer music is once again being led in the old city of Safed by Giora Feidman. Experience instruction, master classes and performances from August 6-13 in Safed, Israel. For details, see the http://www.jmwc.org/pdf/KlezmerinSafedAugust07.pdfflyer (it's a pdf file so you need Adobe Acrobat to open).

FROM THE JAWS OF THE LION

FROM THE JAWS OF THE LION
On 25 March, 2007, in the advent of Yom HaShoah veHaG'vurah, the Felicia Blumenthal Music Center in Tel-Aviv will present a concert of art songs by Arie Ben Erez Abrahamson (1904-1992). Composed before his deportation, during his imprisonment in the concentration camps of Vichy France, and after his escape from his captors, the music is set to texts of Yiddish and Hebrew poets such as Sutzkewer, Reisen, Rosenfeld, Kipnis, Bialik, and Tschernchowsky. The songs give expression to manifold aspects of Jewish life in the Diaspora, the anxieties of survival, and joy in the renaissance of national Jewish life in the old new homeland. Born in the former Czechoslovakia, Arie Ben Erez Abrahamson's creative process was nourished by the musical traditions of the former Austro-Hungary and the ancient modes of Jewish liturgy. Much of his music miraculously survived the ravages of WWII.
THE ARTISTS
Singers: Eva Ben-Zvi, Soprano, Joshua Breitzer, Tenor, Eliyahu Schleifer, Baritone, Mikhal Shiff Matter, Mezzo- Soprano. Pianists: Ahouvah Babayoff Kremer, Aya Schleifer.
Time: Sunday, 25 March 2007, 8:30 PM
Venue: The Felicia Blumenthal Music Center and Library
Bialik Street, 26
Tel-Aviv 61048
www.fbmc.co.il
The title of the program is derived from the phrase "Free us from the jaws of the lion," from the well know text by the 16th century poet Israel Najara . Arie Ben Erez Abrahamson set it to music while a prisoner in the Saint Cyprien Concentration Camp in Vichy France.

Marty Ehrlich Trio in Tel Aviv

The Marty Ehrlich Trio will play at the Performing Arts Center in Tel Aviv on January 19 at 10 p.m. Ehrlich, an American wind player is known for his eclectic jazz style. Israeli saxophonist Albert Beger will also appear as a guest of the Trio. Ehrlich's music is influenced not only by jazz, but by traditional Jewish music he heard as a kid in the US as well as American folk, pop, rock.

Ruth and Naomi Raise Your Spirits in Israel

www.raiseyourspirits.org On stage in Alon Shvut, Gush Etzion, Israel is the season's newest SMASH HIT musical production - RUTH & NAOMI in the Fields of Bethlehem.

RUTH & NAOMI is the fourth production of the Efrat/Gush Etzion Raise Your Spirits Summer Stock Festival. It follows Andrew Lloyd Webber's "JOSEPH & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and two other original musicals, "ESTHER & The Secrets in The King's Court" and "NOAH! Ride the Wave!" "ESTHER," "NOAH!" and "RUTH & NAOMI" were all written by the team of Arlene Chertoff, Toby Klein Greenwald and Sharon Katz. The music for "RUTH & NAOMI" was composed by Mitch Clyman.

Raise Your Spirits has already performed for more than 20,000 women and raised more than 400,000 NIS for charity.

This year's production is totally sold out until the middle of November, but tickets are still available for November 20th and November 30th.

For ticket information, contact Tanya - tanyac@netmedia.net.il , 050-659-0265.

‘Ud & Piyyut 2006 The Legacy of Asher Mizrahi

This year’s Ud U’fiyyut (a co-production of the JMRC and the Confederation House in Jerusalem, in the framework of the International ‘Ud Festival Jerusalem, 2006) bears the title: Mi-qeddem U-miyyam: The Legacy of Asher Mizrahi

This concert is dedicated to the work of Asher Mizrahi – poet, musician, composer, artist and a teacher of Hebrew and music – who was born in Jerusalem in 1890, lived more than 40 years in Tunisia, and died in Jerusalem in 1967. Mizrahi wrote songs in Ladino, Hebrew Piyyutim of longing to Zion, as well as Arab-Tunisian songs, performed in the 1930' and 1940' by the most prominent musicians of his time, both Jews and Arabs.

The 'Ud Ufiyyut series, initiated by the Jewish Music Research Centre at the Hebrew University, together with the Confederation House in Jerusalem as part of the International 'Us Festival, Jerusalem, is meant to bring closer the academia and the stage. This program portrays the work of a remarkable poet and musician, whose influence on the tradition of song and Piyyut, in Tunisia as in Jerusalem, cannot be overestimated.

Performers: Elad Gabai, qanun and musical direction; Moshe Luk, Hadas Pal-Yarden, vocals; David Menahem, vocals and nay; Yaniv Raba, ‘ud; Moshe Nuri, Percussions

The concert will take place in the Beit Shmuel, Jerusalem (6 Shama st.), on Sunday, November 12th, 2006, at 9pm.

MUSICA ANTIGUA DE EDUARDO PANIAGUA playing around Canada this Fall

MUSICA ANTIGUA DE EDUARDO PANIAGUA, a group dealing with Spanish medieval music, will perform soon in Canada. On October 26th at the Outaouais Festival de Musiques Sacrées with the program "Three Cultures (Jewish', Muslim' and Christiian' Spanish medieval music and song)". and on Oct. 28th at the Quebec Festival de Musiques Sacrées with the program "Sefarad in Al-Andalus (music and poetry from Hispano-Jewish Golden Age)".

On November 4th the group will play the "Three Cultures" program at Givatayim Theater (Tel-Aviv, Israel), and on Nov 6th at the Jerusalem International Oud Festival, with the program "The Andalusian Oud".

On Nov 22th the group travels to Germany where they will present "Sefarad in Al-Andalus" at the Cervantes Institute of Munich, as part of thehttp://www.istc.org/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=99752 "Jüdische Kulturtage".
Contact Klezmer Sefardi. Jorge Rozemblum for details. rozemblum@yahoo.es

Performance for Women in Jerusalem

Sunday, October 8th @ 8:30pm
Performance for Women
5 Women, 1 Truth Opera Singer, Ballerina, Rock Star, Broadway Dancer, an Academic
Sharing their Stories about their Journeys to Torah
Benefit for the Bnos Miriam, Performing Arts Center for Women
@ Heichal Shlomo, 58 King George St. Jerusalem
Tix: 60-500 NIS
Call 02-622-3810 for info & to purchase tickets or see
www.bnosmiriam. org

FestiLadino in Rishon Letzion

This year's FestiLadino is being held on Hol Homed Sukkot, Oct 11, 2006 in Rishon Letzion, Israel. It promises to be a great lineup this year. Details can be seen on the Festival's website at: http://www.festiladino.org/index.php (Hebrew).

Strauss-Warschauer Duo in Tel Aviv

July 28-29, 2006 Tel Aviv, Israel
Leyvik House
Friday, July 28, morning: hands-on klezmer workshop
Saturday night July 29: Duo concert
www.leyvik.org.il The Leyvik House is the Israeli Center for Yiddish Culture and the Association of Yiddish Writers and Journalists in Israel.

Ensemble Meitar Summer Concerts

Amit Dolberg, pianist and the founder of the international ensemble for Israeli Contemporary Music and Jewish Clasical Music, Ensemble Meitar, announces some of their upcoming concerts.
22.6.2006 - 'White Night' Festival, Einav Center, Tel Aviv
1.7.2006 - Michelstadt, Germany
8.7.2006 - 'New Sounds', Israeli Composers League, Einav Center, Tel Aviv
For details, locations and times, see their websitehttp://www.meitar.net/eng_index.php

21st Zimriya World Assembly of Choirs in Israel

It's a ways away... in July 30-August 9, 2007, but your group may be interested in preparing now for the World Assembly of Choirs in Israel. to be held on Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel. Well known conductors will lead the workshops. The Zimriya, which was found in 1952, takes place every 3 years. There are choirs expected to attend from all over the world. You can express an interest in attending by September 15, 2006, or find out more information by contacting harzimco@netvision.net.il or writing to ZIMRIYA, 4, Aharonowitz Street, Tel Aviv 63 566, Israel or visit the website at www.zimriya.org.il. Individual singers age 18-35 interested in attending the international choir workshop and concert conducted by Michael Gohl (Switzerland) can contact michael.gohl@bluewin.ch

Devora Gila in Concert

Devora Gila presents a benefit concert for Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin
Saturday night, April 8 at 8:15pm
Bat Ayin, Gush Etzion
Also featuring Guest Choreographer/Dancer Yocheved Polanski from Cli Institute of Dance, A Judaic Dance and Arts Program for Women and Girls (Ohio, USA)
Donation requested: 15 NIS

For more information about Midreshet B'erot Bat Ayin: http://www.berotbatayin.org/
For Jewish women's dance, contact: www.cliinstitute.com
For more about Devora Gila: www.cdbaby.com/cd/devoragila

Arie Ben Erez Abrahamson Concert on Israel Radio and in Jerusalem

A concert of the Yiddish and Hebrew art songs of Arie Ben Erez Abrahamson will be performed as part of the Etnachta series of classic music organized by Hayuta Dvir. It will be broadcast live on Kol HaMusica by the Israel Broadcasting Authority from the Henry Crown Symphony Hall in Jerusalem, 20 David Marcus St.(Located near the corner of Chopin, in the Rehavia District near the president's house) The concert and broadcast are scheduled for April 16, 2007 at 5:00 pm. The Etnacha Concert Series performances are free; call tel. 02/561-7167 for schedule information.

An additional concert of works Arie Abrahamson is scheduled for Motzeh Yom HaShoah, 25 April, 2006 at 8:00 pm at the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem . 13 King David Street, Jerusalem, Israel 94101, (02) 620-3333, fax (02) 625-1478
Directions: http://www.huc.edu/libraries/jerusalem/map.html

Ruth Levin's new Yiddish music anthology

Ruth Levin has produced Word and Melody, an anthology of music to Yiddish poetry by her father, published by I.L. Peretz Publications. The anthology - with texts in Yiddish, English and Hebrew -- was launched in Tel Aviv this past weekend. Reminiscences and performances were provided by Alexei Blausov, Regina Drukker, Benny Hendel, Melech Ziv, Prof. Zvi Yavetz, Vera Levinski, Ella Levin, Lev Levin, Ruth Levin, Nechama Lifshitz, Arye Lish, Avishai Fish and Moti Shmit. The anthology contains 49 melodies to songs by 21 Yiddish poets as well photographs and drawings, piano arrangements by Hanan Winternitz, and a preface and epilogue written by Ruth Levin.

International Klezmer Celebration in Safed in July

Classical, Jazz and Klezmer clarinetists from all over the world will meet in Safed, Israel, during the week of July 2-9, 2006 for instruction and concerts. .Master classes will be offered in classical and jazz clarinet and in klezmer style for all instruments. Classes will take place at various sites around the city of Sared. Nightly performances from students with a Gala Final Concert, coinciding with the 19th Annual Safed Klezmer Festival July 9-11. The full program is at www.zhr.info. The artistic director of the week of classes is Giora Feidman. A pdf announcement can be read by clicking here

YIDDISH FEVER from YIDDISH EXPRESS

Mendy CAHAN & der YIDDISH EXPRESS
proudly presents
YIDDISH FEVER
new CD release
www.yiddishexpress.com

UPCOMING CONCERTS
THU February 23, 2006 8PM 40 NIS sold out
THU March 2, 2006 8PM 40 NIS
Beth Shalom Aleikhem
Rehov Berkowitz 4
Tel Aviv
Reservations 03/6956513

Women helping Women in Jerusalem

Women helping Women Fundraiser Dec 18 @ HINENI
BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR A FUN FILLED FEMALES-ONLY FEST!!
Please join me for a wonderful musical evening on Sunday December 18th.
With: Female Vocalist Niriya from Holland, Female Klezmer Group "Alei Assor" incl. Rachel Ferency - Piano, Sarah Leah Phares - clarinet, and Tirtza Chamberlain - violin
TIME: 19.30 - 22.00 (hall open at 19.00)
LOCATION: HINENI Jerusalem (for info www.hinenijerusalem.org)
ADDRESS: 2 Frumkin St. (accross Zion Square) Tel.: 02-624-3407
FEE: 15 NIS Donation suggestion
[Proceeds go to our Friend Rivka battling cancer and medical bills.]

Oh, Lovely Parrot! - Jewish Women's Songs from Kerala

A New CD was released by The Jewish Music Research Centre in Jerusalem on the music of the Jewish women of Cochin, India. For centuries, the Jewish women of Cochin have been singing Jewish songs in the Malayalam language of Kerala, their ancient homeland on the tropical southwest coast of India. Here's the info to buy it and more descriptions below:
Title: Oh, Lovely Parrot! - Jewish Women's Songs from Kerala
Editor(s): Barbara C. Johnson
Publisher: The Jewish Music Research Centre, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Place: Jerusalem
First Edition Year: 2004
Language: Malayalam
Tradition: Cochin
Country: India
Category: Folk Songs
Price: NIS 60 / $ 20
for more info....

The 42 songs on this CD represent just a fraction of their traditional repertoire as preserved in more than 300 written texts, though the melodies of most of the songs have been forgotten. Until recently, the performance of these songs was in danger of being lost altogether with the immigration of almost all the Cochin Jews to Israel, where younger generations no longer understand Malayalam. Fortunately, a collaborative project is now under way, with a team of international scholars, studying and translating the songs, and a group of Cochin women dedicated to reviving their performance. This CD is one result of this collaboration.
http://www.jewish-music.huji.ac.il/GetDetails-green.asp?id=57&TableName=CDs_T

22nd Arad Hebrew Song Festival

This Week! Aug. 2-4.
Many of Israels best singers and choral groups will be performing at Arad and at Metzada. These include David Broza, Gidi Gov, Matti Caspi, Danny Sanderson, Yizhar Cohen, Shalom Chanoch, Avihu Medina, Margalit Tzanani, and the list goes on and on. Some of the free events include a midnight concert dedicated to Naomi Shemer with Shuly Natan, the Gevatron singers, and others.
For details check out the following URL (in Hebrew): http://users.tapuz.co.il/hebrew/other/Arad2004.jpg

UNDER ONE CANOPY

"Under One Canopy: Readings in Jewish Diversity" edited by Karen Primack is the subject of a Literary Reading Evening. UNDER ONE CANOPY also includes music lyrics which includes musical notes...

Sunday, February 29, 2004, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., a Literary Reading Evening will be held @ T'mol Shilshom bookstore Cafe (Kosher-Dairy) Restaurant, Rehov Yoel Solomon 5 (Near Zion Square), Nachlat Sheeva, Jerusalem, Tel. 02-623-2758 to celebrate publication of the new book (prose & poetry), "Under One Canopy: Readings in Jewish Diversity" edited by Karen Primack of "Kulanu". Out of 50 writers in this book, who participated in this 2002 Kulanu International Writing Competition, 10 writers live in Israel & will read! 1. Schulamith C. HaLevy 6. Hadassah W. Harr-Ell 2. Gloria Mound 7. Michael Freund 3. Yitzchak Kerem 8. Emma Kimor 4. Sue Tourkin-Komet 9. Gila Green 5. Loolwa Khazzoom 10. Ruth Fogelman

JMWC Top Jewish Music Accomplishment for 2003

Mazel Tov from The Jewish Music WebCenter: Congratulations Stephen!! This is probably the most significant accomplishment of 2003 on the Internet for Jewish music...

"Ladies and Gentlemen! -- It gives me the greatest of pleasure, after more than 7 years of travail, to announce that over 2,000 sheets of shul music have now been scanned and put on the www.shulmusic.org site."-- so starts the announcement of Stephen Simpson. Simpson's accomplishment is significant in the history of Jewish music online. http://www.shulmusic.org/
The shul music list (http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe.cgi/jewishshulmusic), will give updates as to when the next batches will be on-line. The uploaded files are:
Yamim Noraim basics, taken from 2 choirs: 18 MB
Sulzer in zipped file: 84 Mb
Lewandowski - all three volumes (Shabbat, Yom Tov and recitatives): 100 MB
Basic Shabbat choral material: 14 MB
Index of all known liturgical music composers: 2 Mb
The Blue Book in a zipped file: 44 MB
The Goldfarb (son and father) Yamim Noraim Songster from 1926: 4 Mb
The URL is: http://www.shulmusic.org/latest_updates.htm
Bio: Stephen Simpson grew up in north-west London where he heard the beauty of Jewish liturgical music through singing in his orthodox synagogue choir. After immigrating to Israel, he started a shul choir in Rehovot, Israel. Stephen felt keen disappointment by the decline of choral music in synagogues in Israel. This led him to the current digitization project. He plans to continue to make Jewish music from the early 1800s available to others through the web.